Saltwater crocodiles thriving despite climate change: State of Environment

Saltwater crocodiles continue to reign supreme according to a report into the state of the environment, but their freshwater counterparts are not so lucky. SEE WHY

CLIMATE change might be ruining the country but crocodiles are thriving, according to a new national outlook.

The Australia State of Environment 2021, released this week, is the culmination of five years of research to shape policy and action towards improving the environment.

And while the majority of the report paints a dismal outlook for the nation, crocodiles were found to be the big winners of Australia’s deteriorating climate.

The coastal section of the report explored the condition of coastal species and found crocodiles, particularly saltwater, were ‘thriving’ in the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland.

“Fishes and invertebrates in bays and estuaries are also considered to be in poor condition. In contrast, crocodile populations are healthy and growing,” it read.

Saltwater crocodiles are thriving, according to the report. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

“With no natural predators, crocodiles continue to grow in number in the Northern Territory. Currently limited to Northern Australia, they are moving southward and will more frequently interact with humans and southern fauna. Other species and habitats are also doing well in some parts of Australia despite a poor national outlook.

“Charismatic coastal species such as crocodiles and dugongs captivate the minds of many Australians and therefore contribute to our wellbeing through the appreciation of nature.”

The report specified the Northern Territory saltwater crocodile population to be around 100,000 (excluding hatchlings) and between 20-30,000 in Queensland.

In an unfortunate contrast, the report showed the Territory’s freshwater crocodile population was in significant decline due to the continue effects of the ‘invasive cane toad’ from the 1990s onwards.

“Populations in two river systems have been monitored since the 1980s and all have shown consistent and significant declines since the early 2000s, coinciding with the arrival of cane toads,” it read.

“Detailed analyses in one of the monitored rivers (Daly River) revealed that the total number of crocodiles declined by 70 per cent between 1997 and 2013.

“Despite increasing concern, the invasion of cane toads is seemingly irreversible and no adaptive management has been effective, except for continued monitoring surveys.”

Research suggested Queensland’s freshwater population was ‘widespread and abundant’, suggesting the species could ‘adapt to and endure impacts from cane toads’.